Jody’s mother was and is still a poet and artist who introduced her to poetry and expressive writing as a child in elementary school. Her bed time stories were of Nikki Giovanni, Sonia Sanchez, Marcus Garvey, Phylis Wheatley, Langston Hughes, Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Chavez, Gil Scott Heron, Khalil Gibran, The Last Poets, and many others. She was a classically trained musician in the earlier part of her life, and performed with different bands and ensembles. Coming from a family background of music it was in her blood. Her aunt was a jazz singer who performed with many of the greats that include Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie ‘Yard Bird’ Parker. There was always a jam session going on. All of these influences started Jody’s creative writing experiences as a child and throughout her adulthood.